Carluccio’s guide to drinking coffee

The idea of not drinking coffee in Italy is as mad as having to explain the dos & don’ts of coffee drinking. These rituals are age-old and there’s no room for maneuver!

*The Carluccio’s How to Guide:

*Thou shalt only drink milky coffee(cappuccino, caffe latte, latte macchiato) in the morning. We’re not babies!

*Thou shalt not drink any milky form of coffee after a meal. Milk on a full stomach!? Mamma mia, what of the digestion!?

*Thou shalt not complicate coffee. It is what it is. Requesting a skinny, extra hot, 1.5 shot, vanilla latte is likerequesting a glass of wine mixed with grape juice and served with a straw.

Admittedly there are two exceptions to the rule but that’s it! Thou may order un caffee nocciola (a frothy espresso with hazelnut cream) in Naples and un marocchino (imagine an upside down cappuccino served in a small glass which is first sprinkled with cocoa powder, then hit with a dash of frothy milk, before finally being spiked with a shot of espresso) in Milan.  Ordering these will get you brownie points.

*Thou shalt not use the word espresso when coffee drinking in Italy. A simple ‘caffe’ will suffice. It’s the norm after all.

*Thou shalt not pull up a chair when drinking a coffee. Stand and down it in one, as if swallowing fire!

*Thou shalt not request a mega size bucket of coffee. One size fits all. Something we replicate at Carluccio’s.

*Abide by these commandments and thou may hold your head up high in Italian coffee circles.

Lucca Antiques market takes place over the weekend on the 3rd Sunday of every month & takes place in the middle of the town. It is really good, selling some lovely items from jewellery to furniture. I would recommend a very slow casual walk around (2-3 hours) .

If you aren’t around on the 3rd weekend then it takes place nearby on the other weekends in Tuscany, but Lucca is a great backdrop.

If you don’t have your dog, then bring a child – lots of wonderful gelateria’s nearby for emergencies

Even a bottle of wine for Dad after following Millie around from one jewellery stall to another.

Going to the bank can be a very mundane affair but in Tuscany it is such a pleasure, even during an early day in December. No wonder we all what to come & live in (or paint) this wonderful landscape. The 20 minute journey over the hills and around a few hairpins is such an enjoyable experience especially when you have these beautiful views.